Fluid dispensing equipment



Nov. 26, 1957 J. MERCIER f 2,814,422

FLUID DISPENSING EQUIPMENT Filed April 5,. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 35 ZTA- jg 29 &2! 7-'' 3 15 f L l l 7 H J 1 2 a? 38 5'4? 39 3763 77 7 ,4; W57 53 77 51 1 w 52 52 Q 66 v 541 56 7 4P6? 4 45 INVENTQR 68.Jan/Mera'efi A'ITORN Y5 v Nov. 26, 1957 ERGER 2,814,422-

I v FLUID DISPENSING EQUIPMENT I Filed April 5, 195 2 snee ts-shee: 2

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2,814,422 FLUID DISPENSING EQUIPMENT JeanMercier, New York, N. Y.

Application April 5, 1954, Serial No. 421,139

Claims. (Cl. 222-335) This invention relates to the art of fluiddispensing equipment, and more particularly to a self-chargingdispensing device for delivering a predetermined quantity of fluid.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a fluid dispensingequipment which is neat, compact and not likely to become deranged evenwith long use and will operate for long periods of time without need forreplenishing of the fluid supply, which equipment is automatic inoperation and upon momentary actuation which starts the fluid dispensingcycle, will dependably dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid eventhough the actuating force has been removed and will automaticallyrecharge itself ready for the next dispensing cycle.

According to the invention, these objects are accomplished by thearrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described andparticularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of variouspossible embodiments of the several features of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of the invention, partlyin cross section,

Fig. la is a detail view on a greatly enlarged scale of the control rodlocking means, and

Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar to Fig. 1 of other embodiments of theinvention.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings, the equipment desirablycomprises a reservoir 11 which may be a pressure accumulator ofconventional type charged with a fluid such as grease under a pressureof say 100 atmospheres.

The port 12 of the accumulator is connected by line 13 to a junction 14to which is connected an inlet line 15 through which grease may beforced under pressure to charge the system, the line 15 normally beingclosed by a threaded cap 16.

The junction 14 is connected by a line 17 to the port 18 of a dischargeunit 19 which desirably comprises a cylindrical container 21 closed atone end as at 22 and having the port 18 adjacent such closed end. Theopposed end 23 of the cylinder is closed, desirably by means of athreaded plug 24, screwed into the end 23 which is threaded to receivesuch plug.

Slidably mounted in the bore 26 of the container 21 and fitting snuglytherein is a piston 27, preferably cupshaped as shown, and having itsclosed end 28 adjacent the closed end 22 of the container. A coil spring29 is positioned in the bore of the container 21 compressed between theend 28 of the piston 27 and the plug 24, thereby normally urging thepiston 27 toward the closed end 22 of the container. To limit the upwardmovement of the piston in the container, a screw 31 extends through athreaded opening 32 in the plug 24 and has a knob 33 at its outer endfor adjustment, a nut 34 desirably encompassing the screw 31 on theexterior of the plug to lock the screw in any position of adjustment.

The container 21 desirably has a port 35 near its end 23 which isconnected by line 36 to one of the inlet ports 37 of an actuator valve38, the latter having a second inlet port 39 connected by line 40 tojunction 14. As shown in Fig. 1, the actuator desirably has acylindrical body portion 42 having an axial bore 43 extending com-2,8l4,422 Patented Nov. 26, 1957 pletely therethrough. The actuator, inaddition to ports 37 and 39 which are in communication with bore 43, hasan outlet port 44 also in communication with said bore to which isconnected at line 45 having a nozzle 46 at its free end from which fluidwill be ejected in the manner hereinafter to be described.

Slidably mounted in the bore 43 of the actuator 38 and extendingtherethrough is a control rod 51 which has a stop member 52 aflixed atone end 53 and normally retained against the end 54 of the body portion42 by means of a coil spring 55 compressed between the stop and a fixedmember 56. The other end 57 of the rod which extends from end 58 of thebody portion is cperatively connected to a suitable lever 59 so that,for example, when a train passes by the lever, a trip member on thetrain will pivot the lever 59 to move the rod 51 into the bore 43 of theactuator, against the tension of the coil spring 55.

The rod 51 has an elongated annular groove 61 therein which, when thestop 52 is against the end 54 of the actuator, provides communicationbetween the ports 37 and 39 and at such time the port 44 is closed bythe rod 51. To prevent leakage of fluid from the actuator, the rod 51desirably has a pair of spaced annular grooves 62 and 63 on each siderespectively of annular groove 61 and a resilient seal ring such as an Oring 64 is positioned in each of the grooves 62 and 63.

Means are desirably provided to retain the control rod 51 in actuatedposition until the pressure on the fluid ejected from nozzle 46 fallsbelow a predetermined amount. To this end, the body portion 42 of theactuator has a chamber 66 therein which extends radially outward fromthe bore 43. The chamber 66 is in communication with port 44 by means ofa passageway 67 and is closed at the exterior of the body portionbymeans of a plug 68. Slidably mounted in the chamber 66 is a piston 71which desirably has an annular peripheral groove 72 in which a resilientsealing member 73 such as an 0 ring may be positioned. In order thatpressure may be exerted against the bottom of the piston 71, the latterdesirably has a projection 74 which is designed to abut against the plug68. Positioned between the piston 71 and the control rod 51 is a balllock 76 which is designed to coact with a complementary annulardepression or groove 77 in the rod to lock the latter in valve openposition in the manner hereinafter to be described.

In the operation of the system shown in Fig. 1, the accumulator 11 isfirst charged with a fluid such as grease under a pressure say in theorder of atmospheres, through the filling line 15. Fluid will also flowunder pressure through the junction 14 and line 17 into the port 18 ofthe discharge unit 19 and through line 40, port 39, annular groove 61 ofthe actuator 38, port 37 and line 36 into the port 35 of the dischargeunit. As the pressure on the fluid forced into the ports 18 and 35 ofthe discharge unit is identical, by reason of the tensed coil spring 29,the piston 27 will be forced to the bottom 22 of the container 21 andthe chamber 78 thereof will be charged with fluid.

Assuming that a train should run past the lever 59 connected to thecontrol rod 51, the latter will be moved to the right, thereby closingport 39 and providing communication between ports 37 and 44 throughannular groove 61.. At such time the fluid under pressure in theaccumulator 11 will be forced through line 13, junction 14 and line 17,into port 18 of the discharge unit 19 to react against the undersurfaceof the piston 27. As the chamber 78 is connected through port 35, line36, port 37, annualr groove 61, port 44, line 45 to nozzle 46 which isopen to the atmosphere, thepiston 27 will be free to move toward end 23of the discharge unit. As a result, the fluid charged into chamber 78will be forced u from such chamber through the port 35, line 36, port37, annular groove 61, port 44 and line 45 to be ejected from nozzle 46against a switch joint. The quantity of fluid charged into the chamber78 is determined by the position of the screw 31 which limits themovement of the piston 27 in the bore 26 of the discharge unit.

To insure that all of the fluid in the chamber 78 will be dischargedtherefrom against the switch joint, means are provided to retain thecontrol rod 51 in operating position even after the actuating forceagainst the lever controlling the latter is relieved. For this purpose,it is to be noted that the fluid forced from the port 44 will of coursebe under pressure as long as the piston 27 is moving in bore 26 and suchpressure is transmitted through passageway 67 into chamber 66 to reactagainst the undersurface of the piston 71 in the latter, moving thelatter radially inward and urging the ball 76 against the rod 51. Theball 76 will enter the annular groove 77 when the latter is injuxtaposition with chamber 66 and willbe retained in such annular grooveas long as there is pressure in passageway 67, to lock the control rod51 in operating or valve open position against the tension of spring 55.

Thus, it is not until substantially all of the fluid in chamber 78 isdischarged therefrom and the bottom 28 of the piston is resting againstthe end of the screw 31, that the pressure in passageway 67 will fall toatmospheric pressure. At this time the spring 55 reacting against rod 51will overcome the atmospheric force urging the piston 71 and ball 76inwardly, to force the rod to the left thereby moving the ball andpiston into chamber 66 and the spring 55 will restore the rod 51 tonormal position with ports 37 and 39 in communication and with port 44sealed by the rod.

Consequently, the discharge unit will again charge in the mannerpreviously described and be ready for the next fluid ejecting actionwhen the control rod 51 is moved by the force of the train.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 2 is substantially identical-to that shownin Fig. 1, except for the discharge unit 81 and corresponding parts havethe same reference numerals primed. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, thedischarge unit desirably comprises a substantially cylindrical container82 closed at one end as at 83 and in which is slidably mounted a piston84, which defines chambers 85 and 86. Aflixed at one end to piston 84 isa piston rod 87 which extends through an axial bore 88 in a plug 89screwed into the end 91 of the container. Desirably the wall of the bore88 has an annular groove 92 in which a resilient ring seal 93 ispositioned to prevent leakage of fluid from the container.

The container 82 has a port 94 near its closed end 83 anda port 95 nearits other end 91, said ports leading into chambers 85, 86, respectively,and being connected by lines 36 and 17, respectively to port 37 of theactuator and to junction 14'.

To control the amount of fluid forced from the discharge unit 81, ascrew 96 extends through a threaded bore 97 in the closed end 83 of thecontainer and is retained in desired position of adjustment by means ofa nut 98.

In the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, after the reservoir11' has been charged with fluid under pressure, such fluid will beforced from the accumulator port 12', through line 13, junction 14, line17' into port 95 of the discharge unit. In addition, the fluid will beforced from the accumulator through line 13', junction 14, line port 39,annular groove 61', port 37', line 36" into port 94 of the dischargeunit. As the surface area of the piston 84 in chamber 85 of thedischarge unit is greater than the surface area of the piston in chamber86 due to the presence of the piston rod 87 in such chamber 86, althoughthe fluid forced into ports 94, 95 will be under the same pressure, moreforce will be exerted against the surface of the piston in chamber andconsequently the piston 84 will move toward end 91 of the container andthe chamber 85 will charge with fluid.

When the lever 59' is moved, say by the action of the train passingthereby and the control rod 51' of the actuator 38' is moved to theright against the tension of the coil spring 55, the port 39' will. besealed and ports 37' and 44' will be connected. At such time the fluidunder pressure in the accumulator 11' will be forced through line 13',junction 14 and line 17 into port of the discharge unit to react againstthe surface of the piston in chamber 86. As the port 94 is connected byline 36, port 37', annular groove 61', port 44, line 45' to nozzle 46'which is open to the atmosphere, the pressure in chamber 85 will be lessthan that in chamber 86 and the piston 84 will move downwardly, limitedby the screw 96, thereby forcing fluid through the nozzle 46' to beejected against the switch joint.

In the manner previously described with respect to the embodiment ofFig. 1, the ports 37 and 44 will be maintained in communication untilsubstantially all of the fluid is ejected from the chamber 85 at whichtime the control rod 51 will be moved by spring 55' to connect ports 37and 39 and close port 44' for recharging of the discharge unit 81.

The embodiment of the device shown in Fig. 3, desirably comprises areservoir or pressure accumulator 101 which may be charged with a fluidsuch as grease under pressure, say in the order of atmospheres. The port102 of the accumulator is connected by line 103 to a junction 104 whichhas an inlet 105 designed to be connected to a source of fluid underpressure and normally closed by a cap 106.

The junction 104 is connected by line 107 to the port 108 of a dischargeunit 109, which as shown in Fig. 3 desirably comprises a cylindricalcontainer 111 closed at one end 112 and which may have a cap 113 screwedon its other end 114 in which the port 108 is provided. Slidably mountedin the container 111 is a cup-shaped piston 115 which has a small venthole 116 in its floor 117, the piston defining chambers 118 and 119 inthe container. The piston 115 is normally urged toward the cap end 114of the container by means of a coil spring 120 compressed between theend 112 of the container and the fioor 117 of the piston. The container111 has a port 121 adjacent the end 112 thereof leading into the chamber119. The port 121 is designed to be closed by the side wall 122 of thepiston when the latter is moved into engagement with the end 112 of thecontainer. Port 121 is connected by line 123 to the inlet port 124 of avalve 125, which has an outlet port 126 connected by line 127 to anozzle 128. The valve has a rotatable member 129 therein with apassageway 131 therethrough designed to provide communication betweenports 124 and 126 and such rotatable member is controlled by means of alever 132 connected thereto.

To actuate the lever 132, a control rod 133 is provided, slidablymounted in bearings 134 and 135 rigidly atfixed in any suitable manner.The rod 133 has a pair of spaced abutments or stops 136 and 137 thereon,straddling the free end 138 of the lever 132 and is normally urged tovalve closing position by means of a coil spring 139 afiixed at one endas at 141 and connected at its other end as at 142 to a projection 143affixed to the rod. By reason of the tension of coil spring 139, the rodwill normally be urged to the left with the stop 137 engaging the freeend 138 of lever 132 retaining the valve in closed position, and whenthe rod 133 is moved to the right in the manner hereinafter to bedescribed, the stop 136 will engage the free end 138 of lever 132 tomove the valve 125 to open position.

Suitable means are provided to dampen the return movement of the rod 133from valve open to valve closed position. To this end, as is shown inFig. 3, a cylindrical housing 151 is provided having longitudinallyaligned axial bores or openings 152 in its ends 153 and 154 throughwhich the rod 133 extends, the housing also having an inlet port 155 forcharging with a suitable dampening fluid. Afiixed to the rod 133 in thebore 156 of the housing 151 is a piston 157 which has a plurality ofopenings 158 therethrough. The rod 133, in the housing 151, isencompassed by a washer or valve member 159, the movement of which islimited by the piston 157 and an annular collar 161 aflixed to the rod.The rod 133 may have a passageway 162 extending from one side of thepiston to the other, the purpose of which will hereinafter be describedThe free end 163 of the rod which extends from the end 153 of thehousing is suitably connected to an actuating lever 164.

In the operation of the equipment shown in Fig. 3, fluid under pressurewill flow from the accumulator 101 through line 103, junction 104 andline 107 into port 108 of the discharge unit 109. As a result, thepiston 115 therein will be forced downwardly, compressing the coilspring 120 and charging chamber 118. As the valve 125 is normallyclosed, by reason of leakage of fluid through the small vent 116 and thetension of the coil spring 120, the piston 115 will gradually movetoward the end 114 of the container at which time the chamber 119 willbe completely charged with fluid.

When the lever 164 is actuated, say by the movement of the trainthereby, the control rod 133 will be moved to the right from theposition shown in Fig. 3. Although the housing 151 of the damping deviceis filled with fluid, as the washer 159 will move away from the openings158 in the piston with movement of the latter to the right, the movementof rod 133 will be substantially unimpeded. Such movement of rod 133 tothe right will cause the stop 136 to abut against the free end 138 ofthe lever 132 to rotate the member 129 so that ports 124 and 126 are incommunication.

Although the train may have passed by the lever 164 at this time, andthe coil spring 139 tends to move the rod 133 to the left, as suchmovement will cause the washer 159 to move against the piston 157, theopenings 158 therein will be sealed and consequently movement of the rodwould be substantially stopped except for the fact that there is slightleakage through the small passageway 162 which permits relatively slowmovement of the rod to the left.

As the result of such damping action, the rod 133 will move slowly tothe left under the urging of spring 139 and the valve 125 will remainopen until the stop 137 abuts against the free end 138 of the lever 132,which will not occur until the discharge unit has emptied.

Due to the opening of valve 125, the fluid under pressure from theaccumulator 101 which reacts against the piston 115 of the dischargeunit 109, will force such piston toward end 112 against the tension ofcoil spring 120 and consequently fluid will be forced from chamber 119through port 121, line 123, open valve 125 and line 127 from the nozzle128 until the side wall 122 of the piston 115 seats against the end 112of the container 111, at which time the port 121 will be closed.

Thereupon, the gradual movement of the rod 133 to the left permitted bythe flow of fluid through passageway 162 will cause stop 137 to abutagainst the end 138 of lever 132 to close valve 125.

When this occurs, due to slight leakage through the vent 116 in thefloor 117 of the piston 115, the latter will gradually move under theurging of spring 120 to cap 113 to recharge the chamber 119 so that theequipment is ready for the next cycle of operation.

The equipment above described has many applications. Thus for example,in addition to its use to lubricate a switch joint, the equipment may beused to lubricate automatic machinery of any type so that as the latteroperates, at predetermined times, a cam or any suitable controllingmeans may operate the control rod of the equipment to provide for theejection of lubricating oil on, a desired bearing.

As many changes could be made in the above equipment, and manyapparently widely diflerent embodiments of this invention could .be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Equipment of the character described comprising a discharge unithaving a piston slidable in the bore thereof and having a pair of portspositioned near each of the ends I of said discharge unit respectivelyon opposite sides of the piston, means in said discharge unit when fluidunder pressure is applied to the two ports thereof to effect movement ofthe piston therein toward one end of the unit for charging of thelatter, a valve comprising a body portion having a bore therethrough andhaving a pair of ports leading into said bore, means connecting the portof said discharge unit remote from the end of the latter toward whichthe piston is moved for charging of said discharge unit to one of theports of said valve, said body portion of said valve having an outletport leading into said bore, said outlet port having an outlet connectedthereto, slidable means in the bore of said body portion normallyproviding communication between said first two ports and closing saidoutlet port, said slidable means being conformed to providecommunication upon movement thereof between the port of said valveconnected to the port of said discharge unit and said outlet port and toclose the other port of said valve, whereby when a source of fluid underpressure is applied to the other port of said discharge unit the pistontherein will be moved to eject the fluid therein through the outlet, andmeans controlled by the pressure in said connecting means to retain saidslidable means in position to provide communication between the port ofsaid valve connected to the port of said discharge unit and said outletport until such pressure has fallen below a predetermined amount, fordischarge of substantially all of the fluid from said discharge unit andthereupon to move said slidable means to cut off such communication.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 in which the means in saiddischarge unit comprises a piston rod aflixed at one end to the pistonin said discharge unit and extending axially through the latter beyondthe end of the bore in said discharge unit.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 in which said last named meanscomprises a chamber in the body portion of said valve, said chamberbeing in communication with said outlet port, said slidable member has alocking conformation movable into juxtaposition with said chamher, andslidable means are provided in said chamber movable into engagement withsaid locking conformation to retain the slidable member in valve openposition.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 in which said locking conformationin said slidable member comprises a depression therein and the slidablemeans in said chamber comprises a piston, a ball positioned between saidpiston and said bore and movable by said piston into said depression insaid slidable member.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 in which said chamber extendsradially outward from the bore in said body portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,075,898 Champ Oct. 14, 1913 1,454,765 Patterson May 8, 1923 1,769,499Dupuy July 1, 1930 2,094,930 Pruvol Oct. 5, 1937 2,651,439 StevensonSept. 8, 1953 2,664,969 Bjerre Jan. 5, 1954

